Laughter really is the best medicine: Just 15 minutes of laughter is enough to increase pain tolerance 10%, says study

A rattling good laugh with friends will help you deal with pain thanks to opiate-like chemicals that flood the brain, according to a British study released on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AP PARIS (AFP) - A rattling good laugh with friends will help you deal with pain thanks to opiate-like chemicals that flood the brain, according to a British study released on Wednesday. Researchers carried out lab experiments in which volunteers watched either comedy clips from Mr Bean or Friends, or non-humorous items such as golf or wildlife programmes, while their resistance to mild pain was monitored. Another test was conducted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the volunteers watched either a stand-up comedy show or a theatrical drama. In lab conditions, the pain came from a deep-frozen wine-cooler sleeve which was slipped onto the arm or from a blood-pressure cuff that was pumped to t...